On our first episode of this Manufacturing Matters podcast , we are thrilled to welcome a friend to our firm, and powerhouse in business transformation and strategic leadership, Kate Davies.

Kate is a seasoned change agent with a remarkable track record of driving operational excellence and strategic change across the manufacturing and engineering sectors. With board-level experience in both UK and European companies, including Private Equity-backed and FTSE 100 firms.

Kate has led major turnarounds, restructured business models, and implemented governance frameworks that have delivered real, measurable impact. She’s held senior leadership roles with world class manufacturers such as Rolls Royce, General Electric, and Alstom, and most recently served as COO and Managing Director at BRUSH, where she led a cultural and operational transformation that turned a loss-making business unit into a 20%+ EBITDA success story in under a year.

Kate is also the founder of Rufus Wren Ltd, where she continues to advise top-tier clients on governance, risk, and business transformation. Beyond the boardroom, she’s a passionate advocate for STEM education, actively supporting initiatives like National Interviewing Week and National Apprentice Week, and serves as a trustee for Stratford Upon Avon Municipal Charities.

In this episode Bonnie Amos-English, Consultant in our Regeneration and Housing Practice sits down with Nicki Jenkins, Corporate Director for Growth and City Development at Nottingham City Council.

They discuss Nicki's experience of working for the Council for over 20 years along with the objectives for the future around housing strategy and inclusive growth. They also talk about the plan for the Housing Directate going forward and Strategic Director of Housing position that they are partnering on.

In this episode, host Bonnie Amos-English speaks with Matthew Norwell, Director of Place at London Borough of Bexley about the journey he and his team have been on during his 4 years with the Council. Matthew talks about the hard work done to get the directorate into a strong and stable state that they can now “springboard” from to achieve the exciting plans the Council has around Growth and Regeneration.

Bonnie and Matthew also discuss the recruitment of a new Deputy Director, who will be heavily involved in bringing these plans to fruition - join us to hear more!

Welcome to "Switching Sectors with Berwick Partners," the podcast series that delves into the fascinating career journeys of leaders who have successfully navigated across different industries. In each episode, we explore the unique career histories, pivotal decisions, and strategic moves that have enabled these leaders to thrive in new sectors.

In our inaugural episode, host Bonnie Amos-English sits down with Paul Harris, the Chief Customer Officer at Curo Group. Paul shares his inspiring career story, detailing the challenges and triumphs he encountered while transitioning from one sector to another. Tune in to hear valuable insights and advice on how to make bold career moves and succeed in unfamiliar territories.

John and Berwick Partners’ Principal Consultant, Tom Ewen discuss John's career to date, as well as the motivations which have driven him throughout his career. He also reflects on how leading British Brands Group and working with the members has had a meaningful impact on the lives of virtually every consumer in the UK and across the world.

The release of this podcast coincides with the the search for John's successor as he is standing down as Chief Executive next year.

Berwick Partners are supporting British Brands Group to recruit John's successor and John discusses what the members are aiming to accomplish with this exciting opportunity in this podcast.

For more information on this appointment including access to the full job description

please visit: Chief Executive

John has a background in Marketing and has worked throughout his career with a wide array of businesses. He became the first Chief Executive of British Brands Group over 25 years ago and has led the organisation through an incredibly dynamic period of change and opportunity.

For an informal conversation about the Chief Executive appointment for British Brands Group, please email Tom Ewen on thomas.ewen@berwickpartners.co.uk

As we explore the journeys of professionals in the placemaking sector, we are excited to introduce the first episode.

We kick things off with Ben Heywood from Liverpool City Council. Ben's career, as you will hear is a fascinating blend of commercial and public sector experience and he shares insights from his year so far at the Council, his vision for his new team and how he continues to integrate strong commercial perspective into his public service role.

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Ben Heywood as we uncover the unique paths that lead to impactful placemaking.

In this episode, Liam Young explores the world of external affairs with Michelle Smyth, Head of External and Government Affairs at the Open University.

Together, they explore the vital but often misunderstood role of external affairs teams within universities. Michelle shares firsthand insights into her daily responsibilities, navigating the general election campaign, and fostering meaningful connections with businesses and community organisations. Listen to discover how these efforts shape strategies and outreach initiatives, building stronger links between institutions and their communities.

For further information about Berwick Partners and their Education Practice, please contact Liam Young at liam.young@berwickpartners.co.uk

In this podcast we are speaking to Jo Causon the Chief Executive of the Institute of Customer Service. Jo and Berwick Partners’ Principal consultant, Tom Ewen discuss how critical customer service is to the economy of the UK and in creating a conducive environment for a thriving business. The launch of this podcast coincides with the publications of The Institute’s flagship annual report the Customer Satisfaction Index.

Tom and Jo also discuss a new search which Berwick Partners is leading on behalf of the Institute of Customer Service. In this newly created Commercial Director role, Jo describes how critical this appointment is, as part of an organisational redesign and what success will look like for ICS, their members and for the successful applicant.

For more information on the appointment of the Commercial Director for the Institute of Customer Service, including access to the full job description, please visit: https://www.berwickpartners.co.uk/90778

To look at the Customer Satisfaction Index published by The Institute of 23rd January 2024, please visit: https://lp.instituteofcustomerservice.com/ukcsi-jan-24